Tracking NPCs

[IronWolf]

I need to get better at tracking my NPCs in my current campaign. In the past I have tried notecards, notebooks, etc. I have recently started to use an iPad when GMing and I figure there should be something that can help me manager this better. Ideally though this something would be available on my iPad and from one of several other PCs.

What works well for you to keep track of your NPCs? They should be easily referenced and allow some room to mention key traits and possibly a note on the last interaction the PCs had with them. Does just a spreadsheet work well for you? A text file? Something else?

Curious to see how other people are managing this electronically.

 

[Krensky]

I've just been using a Google Doc document for general recod keeping, and a Google doc sheet for combat tracking. I could do just fine with OpenOffice Calc, Write, and maybe The Guide (an extrinsic two pane outliner app, The Guide - Home), but the Docs are easier to share.

You might want to look at Evernote. It has clients for MacOS, iPod/iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows, web, and Windows phones. It's free unless you need to upload any type of file, collaboration features, fast image recognition/ocr/handwriting recognition, need notes over 25Mb, upload more then 60Mb a month, or hate ads.Then it's $5/month or $45/year.

In all likelihood, you'll won't hit the data limits on the free account. I use it pretty heavily and only bought a premium account to support the company and the cloud storage feature.

Remember Everything | Evernote Corporation

 

[The Shaman]

Obsidian Portal.

In addition to the blocks shown for stats (Description) and fluff (Background) on each character page, there is a third box visible only to the referee; I put the character's complete stats there, plus hot links to their allies, their enemies, any organizations to which they belong, places where they may be found, and encounters in which they may appear. Each character page also contains a number of tabs for easy cross-referencing. Everything I need for the character is either in front of me or a click away.

The entire character page can also be made ref-only; I have a number of generic characters stored this way, in case I need stats for a bartender or a pickpocket or a guardsman, as well as characters who I haven't yet 'revealed' to the players.

It's very convenient to use in actual play.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Call me a purist, but I still keep NPC record sheets and notes in a dedicated section of my campaign notebook (even if that notebook happens to be a computer file)k. I have recently used Charles Ryan's "5 things everyone knows about..." strategy to really cut down on the management aspect.

It's a great and effective tool without having to do anything too differently than what you are already doing, except, just jot down 5 bullet points instead of copious amounts of back story or facts, then fill in as needed.

 

[IronWolf]

I've just been using a Google Doc document for general recod keeping, and a Google doc sheet for combat tracking. I could do just fine with OpenOffice Calc, Write, and maybe The Guide (an extrinsic two pane outliner app, The Guide - Home), but the Docs are easier to share.

You might want to look at Evernote. It has clients for MacOS, iPod/iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows, web, and Windows phones. It's free unless you need to upload any type of file, collaboration features, fast image recognition/ocr/handwriting recognition, need notes over 25Mb, upload more then 60Mb a month, or hate ads.Then it's $5/month or $45/year.

Funny! These are the two big methods I have considered most strongly - a spreadsheet on google docs or a note application that could make use of some cloud storage.

Obsidian Portal.

In addition to the blocks shown for stats (Description) and fluff (Background) on each character page, there is a third box visible only to the referee; I put the character's complete stats there, plus hot links to their allies, their enemies, any organizations to which they belong, places where they may be found, and encounters in which they may appear. Each character page also contains a number of tabs for easy cross-referencing. Everything I need for the character is either in front of me or a click away.

I have looked at Obsidian Portal before - for my current campaign even. For some reason the site just doesn't do it for me. Not sure why, more of a subjective hurdle than something I can really put my finger on. Perhaps I just need to look at it again now that I have a particular task in mind and see how well it works for me to accomplish that task.

Call me a purist, but I still keep NPC record sheets and notes in a dedicated section of my campaign notebook (even if that notebook happens to be a computer file)k. I have recently used Charles Ryan's "5 things everyone knows about..." strategy to really cut down on the management aspect.

It's a great and effective tool without having to do anything too differently than what you are already doing, except, just jot down 5 bullet points instead of copious amounts of back story or facts, then fill in as needed.

I am looking for simple, if it takes too much I end up putting it off and suddenly have have NPCs I have introduced and forgotten about if they need to come back on to the scene.

I just googled the "5 things everyone knows about..." That could certainly help put some scope to what I need to include about an NPC to keep them consistent and breathe some life into them over time. A friend also gave me a copy of 'NPC Essentials' by Johnn Four to help me with breathing life into my NPCs as well.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Have you looked at DMTool Kit on the iPad? Have you seen the list of apps?

http://www.enworld.org/forum/subscriber-articles/274552-iphone-ipod-android-applications-rpgs.html